Hydrotherapy assembly for a swimming pool

ABSTRACT

A hydrotherapy assembly including a connector and a jet device. The connector has a first portion directly connected to a return line port of the swimming pool and a second portion protruding in the pool. The jet device has a water entry port detachably connected to the second portion, an air entry port receiving air, and at least one jet valve. Each jet valve has water and air inlets in fluid communication respectively with the water and air entry ports and an outlet in fluid communication with the water and air inlets and letting through a mixed flow of air and water. The jet device is removable when not in use by detaching the water entry port from the second portion. A hydrotherapy device with a substantially rectangular casing and a method of installing a hydrotherapy device are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hydrotherapy, particularly to a hydrotherapy device for a swimming pool.

2. Background Art

Hydrotherapy has become increasingly popular, and it is desirable to provide people having an above ground or in ground swimming pool means to enjoy hydrotherapy at a reduced cost.

Various arrangements destined to provide a swimming pool with hydrotherapy jets have been previously proposed, including attaching a therapy pool to a swimming pool through a transition section, inserting a removable therapy pool partition within a swimming pool, integrating seats within swimming pool wall, etc. However, such devices are usually costly, and in most cases cannot be retrofitted on existing swimming pool without numerous modifications to the swimming pool.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,322 to Weir discloses a modular seat unit lowered into a swimming pool and including hydrotherapy water/air jets. However, the modular seat unit is relatively bulky and the flexible conduit used for providing water to the unit, located within the swimming pool, can be an entanglement hazard.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved hydrotherapy assembly for a swimming pool.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved hydrotherapy assembly for a swimming pool.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hydrotherapy assembly for a swimming pool, the assembly comprising a connector having first and second portions, the first portion being directly connected to a return line port defined in a wall of the swimming pool, the second portion protruding from the wall within the swimming pool, the connector having a conduit defined through the first and second portions and letting a water flow from the return line pass therethrough, and a jet device having a water entry port detachably connected to the second portion in fluid communication with the conduit such that the water flow enters the water entry port, an air entry port receiving air, and at least one jet valve, each of the at least one jet valve having a water inlet in fluid communication with the water entry port, an air inlet in fluid communication with the air entry port, and an outlet in fluid communication with the water and air inlets and letting through a mixed flow of air and water, the jet device being removable when not in use by detaching the water entry port from the second portion.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hydrotherapy device for a swimming pool, the device comprising a casing having substantially rectangular front and rear walls interconnected by opposed side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the casing being adapted to be retained with the rear wall facing a swimming pool wall and with top and bottom portions of the casing respectively located above and below a water line of the swimming pool, a water inlet extending from the casing and connectable to a water supply of the swimming pool, an air inlet defined in the top portion of the casing, at least two jet valves located within the casing, each of the jet valves being in fluid communication with the water and air inlets through conduits located within the casing and producing a mixed flow of air and water, and an outlet in fluid communication with each one of the jet valves to expel the mixed flow of air and water, the outlet being defined in the front wall in the bottom portion of the casing.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of installing a hydrotherapy device within a swimming pool, the method comprising detaching a first portion of a return line port of a swimming pool from a second portion of the return line, the second portion having a first conduit defined therein for a water supply of the swimming pool, attaching a connector having a second conduit defined therein to the second portion of the return line port with the second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, and attaching the water entry port of the hydrotherapy device to the connector to be in fluid communication with the second conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the present invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a hydrotherapy assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the hydrotherapy assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the elements contained within the casing of the hydrotherapy assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the hydrotherapy assembly of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a hydrotherapy assembly according to the present invention is generally indicated at 8, and includes a hydrotherapy or jet device 10. The hydrotherapy assembly 8 also includes a connector 26 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) which will be described further below.

The hydrotherapy device 10 includes a casing 12, formed by preferably substantially rectangular front and rear walls 14,16 interconnected by two elongated side walls 18, a top wall 20, and a bottom wall 22. The casing 12 includes a top portion 19 and a bottom portion 21, which, when the hydrotherapy device 10 is placed vertically within a swimming pool, will preferably be located respectively above and below the water line 11.

The front wall 14 includes three (3) vertically spaced apart recesses 17 defined in the bottom portion 21. Within each recess 17 is located the outlet or discharge portion 58 a,b,c of one of three (3) jet valves or nozzles 24 a,b,c, with each jet valve 24 a,b,c preferably not extending beyond the unrecessed portion of the front wall 14. This configuration is preferable such as to protect the jet valves 24 a,b,c from being hit by people or objects within the swimming pool. Alternatively, the recesses 17 can be omitted, and the jet valves 24 a,b,c can protrude from the front wall 14.

The jet valves 24 a,b,c are devices that produce a turbulent mixed flow of air and water from separate water and air sources, and can be any appropriate type of jet valves or nozzles known in the art, such as the jet nozzles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,954 to Collins et al. for example, or any other type of equivalent mixed air and water flow producing structure. The casing 12 is preferably sized such that the topmost jet valve 24 a is located near the water line 11, and the bottommost jet valve 24 c is located near the bottom of the swimming pool. Preferably, all but one of the outlets 58 a,b,c of the jet valves 24 a,b,c can be closed, if desired, to stop the mixed flow of air and water coming therethrough, with one always remaining open to prevent straining and damage to the pumping system that could be caused by the increased pressure of a blocked outgoing water flow.

An air entry port 23 is defined in the top portion 19, preferably through a hole in the top wall 20. Alternatively, the air entry port 23 can be defined in the bottom portion 21, although in this case a conduit (not shown) is required to connect the port, which will be located under water, to an air source. It is considered to provide the air entry port 23 with closing means (not shown), such that the air entry port 23 can be shut off at will, transforming the mixed flow of air and water coming from the jet valves outlets 58 a,b,c into a flow of water only. Also, the closing means can be adapted to partially shut the air entry port 23, such as to vary the portion of air contained in the mixed flow of air and water.

Referring to FIG. 2, a water entry port 25 is defined in a recess 31 in the rear wall 16, preferably in the bottom portion 21. The water entry port 25 includes a sleeve 28 extending within the casing 12 and protruding from the recessed portion 31 of the rear wall 16. The sleeve 28 includes two diametrically opposed transverse holes 30 (see FIG. 3). The holes 30 are preferably defined in the portion of the sleeve 28 located within the casing 12, and a hole 35 is defined in the side wall 18 in alignment with the sleeve holes 30. Alternatively, the sleeve holes 30 can be defined outside of the casing 12 and the side wall hole 35 can be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a cylindrical connector 26 includes a projecting portion 29 and an externally threaded portion 27, with both portions 27,29 defining a conduit 33 through the connector 26. The threaded portion 27 is sized to be threadingly engaged to a threaded ring 36 (only partially shown here) of a standard return line port defined through a swimming pool wall 13, such that the conduit 33 is in fluid communication with the return line port.

The projecting portion 29 is sized to be snuggly received within the sleeve 28 of the water entry port 25, such that the conduit 33 is in fluid communication with the water entry port 25. The projecting portion 29 includes two diametrically opposed transverse holes 32, which can be aligned with the sleeve holes 30 when the projecting portion 29 is inserted into the sleeve 28.

A pin 34 is inserted through the aligned holes 30,32,35 to detachably retain the projecting portion 29 in the sleeve 28. The pin 34 is preferably made of a floating material, such as polyethylene, to facilitate retrieval of the pin 34 within the swimming pool if the pin 34 is dropped. The pin 34 can also be permanently attached to the casing 12 through a cord or chain long enough to allow easy removal and insertion of the pin 34 in place.

A recess 37 is preferably provided within the rear wall 16 to receive the detached connector 26 such as to reduce a necessary size of a packaging container for the hydrotherapy device 10 when not in use. Alternatively, the recess 37 can be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3, a preferred configuration for the various elements contained in the casing 12 is shown. The sleeve 28 of the water entry port 25 is perpendicularly connected to a vertical water conduit 40 through a first elbow 38. The water conduit 40 is in turn perpendicularly connected to a “T” junction 44 through a second elbow 42. A main water conduit 46 extends vertically from both side of the “T” junction 44. “T” shaped water inlets 48 a,b,c are defined in the main water conduit 46, one for each of the jet valves 24 a,b,c. Preferably, the bottommost water inlet 48 c is located below the “T” junction 44, and the two other water inlets 48 a,b are located above the “T” junction 44. The bottommost water inlet 48 c seals the bottom end 47 of the main water conduit 46, while the topmost water inlet 48 a seals the top end 49 of the main water conduit 46.

A main air conduit 50 extends vertically next to the main water conduit 46. “T” shaped air inlets 52 a,b,c are defined in the main air conduit 50, one for each of the jet valves 24 a,b,c. The bottommost air inlet 52 c seals the bottom end 51 of the main air conduit 50, while the open top end 53 of the main air conduit 50, located above the topmost air inlet 52 a, is in fluid communication with the air entry port 23 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

In use, the nozzle portion of the return line port of the swimming pool attached to the threaded ring 36 is removed. The threaded portion 27 of the connector 26 is threadingly engaged to the ring 36. The sleeve 28 of the hydrotherapy device 10 is engaged with the projecting portion 29 of the connector 26 with the holes 30,32,35 in alignment, and the pin 34 is inserted through the aligned holes 30,32,35. This effectively retains the casing 12 with the rear wall 16 adjacent to the swimming pool wall 13, preferably in contact therewith to reduce a risk of entanglement injury.

The water coming through the return line port enters the water entry port 25, circulates through the first elbow 38, water conduit 40, second elbow 42, “T” junction 44, and reaches the main conduit 46 to penetrate each of the water inlets 48 a,b,c. The movement of water through the jet valves 24 a,b,c produces a “suction effect” which draws air through the air entry port 23, the air entering the main air conduit 50 through the open top end 53 and being distributed to the jet valves 24 a,b,c through the air inlets 52 a,b,c. A mixed flow of air and water exits from the outlet 58 a,b,c of each jet valve 24 a,b,c, through the front wall 14 of the casing 12 of the hydrotherapy device 10.

A user located within the swimming pool can benefit from the mixed water and air flow coming from the jet valves 24 a,b,c simply by standing in front of the hydrotherapy device 10 and orienting his or her body according to a desired body portion to be massaged. In particular, the bottommost jet valve 24 c can provide for massaging of a users feet by simply alternatively orienting the sole of each foot toward the jet valve 24 c. Advantageously, the hydrotherapy device 10 also oxygenates the pool water, which can reduce a quantity of chemical products required to maintain the water quality to a level acceptable for bathing.

The connector 26 retaining the device 10 through the simple insertion of the pin 34 advantageously allows the device 10 to be easily and quickly removed and reinstalled in the swimming pool without the use of tools. When the device 10 is removed, the connector 26 stays in place and acts as the return line port for the swimming pool. Since the connector 26 is simply threadingly engaged with the existing ring 36 of the return line port, the first installation of the device 10, requiring the installation of the connector 26, is also simple, and can be performed without tools in most cases, and in a minimal time.

Although the hydrotherapy device 10 has been described as extending vertically, one skilled in the art would understand that the device 10 could also extend in any other desired direction, including horizontally. Similarly, the size of the casing 12 can vary, and more or less jet valves 24 could be provided, with a minimum number being one (1) and a maximum number being determined by the power available from the pumping system of the swimming pool and the size of the latter.

Other shapes for the casing 12 are also considered, one example being illustrated in FIG. 4, where a hydrotherapy assembly 108 includes an alternative embodiment of the hydrotherapy device 110. The casing 112 takes the form of a chair, composed of a back portion 170 connected to a seat portion 172 bordered by two armrests 174. The top portion 119, which will preferably be located above the water line 111 during use, includes part of the back portion 170, while the seat portion 172, armrests 174 and remainder of the back portion 170 are located in the bottom portion 121 which will be below the water line 111. The distance between the seat portion 172 and the water line 111 is such that at least the head of an intended user sitting on the seat portion 172 will be above the water line 111.

The back portion 170 includes, in the bottom portion 121, two recesses 117, each recess 117 including an outlet 158 a,b for a jet valve 124 a,b. A third recess 117 is defined in the seat portion 172 and includes an outlet 158 c for a third jet valve 124 c.

A support portion 176 extends downward from the seat portion 172 and abuts the floor such as to support the weight of the user. A second support portion 178 can also extend from the back portion 170 to abut a border of the swimming pool wall, and the second support portion 178 can either replace or be used in coordination with the first support portion 176. The support portions 176 and 178 are preferably adjustable such that the hydrotherapy device 110 can be used with pools and users of various sizes.

The elements contained within the chair-shaped casing 112 preferably have the same configuration than in the casing 12, as shown in FIG. 3 and described above, with the water entry port 25 being located in a back surface of the casing 112, preferably in the back portion 170, and the air entry port being located in the top portion 119 of the casing 112. The connector 26 described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the hydrotherapy assembly 8 is also preferably used in the chair-shaped hydrotherapy assembly 108. Advantageously, the two hydrotherapy devices 10,110 can thus be easily substituted for one another.

Although the hydrotherapy devices 10,110 have been illustrated with vertically aligned jet valves 24,124, it is also considered to provide horizontally spaced apart jet valves. The distribution of the jet valves 24,124 within the casing 12,112 need not be symmetrical, although a symmetrical configuration is preferred.

Other shapes for the casing 12,112 are considered, including, but not limited to, foot-shaped recesses for receiving a foot of a user, an arcuate shape conforming to a back profile of a user, whether sitting or standing, bench-like protrusions for one or more users, armrests for a user in a standing position, orifices for inserting accessories such as beverages, umbrellas, trays, etc. In its most simple form, the casing 12,112 is omitted and the hydrotherapy device 10,110 simply includes a single jet valve 24 having a water inlet including a sleeve similar to 28 to engage the connector 26.

Alternatively, the water entry port 25 of the hydrotherapy devices 10,110 can be connected to the return line port through a conduit, flexible or rigid, which is preferably concealed between the casing 12,112 and the pool wall 13 to reduce a risk of entanglement injury. The water entry port 25 can also be connected through a conduit extending outside of the swimming pool to a water supply, either of the swimming pool or independent, for example through a “T” junction inserted in the line exiting the pumping system.

Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary. Those skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that the foregoing description is illustrative only, and that various alternatives and modifications can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A hydrotherapy assembly for a swimming pool, the assembly comprising: a connector having first and second portions, the first portion being directly connected to a return line port defined in a wall of the swimming pool, the second portion protruding from the wall within the swimming pool, the connector having a conduit defined through the first and second portions and letting a water flow from the return line pass therethrough; and a jet device having a water entry port detachably connected to the second portion in fluid communication with the conduit such that the water flow enters the water entry port, an air entry port receiving air, and at least one jet valve, each of the at least one jet valve having a water inlet in fluid communication with the water entry port, an air inlet in fluid communication with the air entry port, and an outlet in fluid communication with the water and air inlets and letting through a mixed flow of air and water, the jet device being removable when not in use by detaching the water entry port from the second portion.
 2. The hydrotherapy assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector is removably connected to the return line port.
 3. The hydrotherapy assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first portion of the connector is threaded and threadingly engaged with a threaded portion of the return line port.
 4. The hydrotherapy assembly according to claim 1, wherein the water entry port includes a sleeve in communication with the second portion of the connector and having a first pair of diametrically opposed transverse holes, the second portion of the connector has a second pair of diametrically opposed transverse holes aligned with the first pair, and a pin is insertable through the first and second pairs of holes to retain the water entry port and second portion together, the pin being slidably removable from the aligned pairs of holes.
 5. The hydrotherapy assembly according to claim 1, wherein the jet device includes an elongated casing having a top portion located above a water line of the swimming pool and a bottom portion located below the water line, the bottom portion including the water entry port and the outlet of each of the at least one jet valve, the top portion including the air entry port, the casing extending vertically adjacent to the swimming pool wall.
 6. The hydrotherapy assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one jet valve includes at least three vertically spaced apart jet valves.
 7. The hydrotherapy assembly according to claim 1, wherein the jet device includes a chair having a seat portion connected to a back portion, the water inlet being defined within the back portion and the at least one jet valve being included in one of the seat and back portions, the chair having a support portion resting on at least one of a floor and a border of the swimming pool to support a weight of a user.
 8. A hydrotherapy device for a swimming pool, the device comprising: a casing having substantially rectangular front and rear walls interconnected by opposed side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the casing being adapted to be retained with the rear wall facing a swimming pool wall and with top and bottom portions of the casing respectively located above and below a water line of the swimming pool; a water inlet extending from the casing and connectable to a water supply of the swimming pool; an air inlet defined in the top portion of the casing; at least two jet valves located within the casing, each of the jet valves being in fluid communication with the water and air inlets through conduits located within the casing and producing a mixed flow of air and water; and an outlet in fluid communication with each one of the jet valves to expel the mixed flow of air and water, the outlet being defined in the front wall in the bottom portion of the casing.
 9. The hydrotherapy device according to claim 8, wherein the water inlet is rigidly connectable to the water supply with a connection between the water inlet and the water supply retaining the casing adjacent the swimming pool wall.
 10. The hydrotherapy device according to claim 8, wherein the water inlet extends from the rear wall of the casing and is connectable to the water supply through a direct connection to a return line port defined in the swimming pool wall.
 11. The hydrotherapy device according to claim 10, wherein the direct connection includes a connector detachably connected to the return line port.
 12. The hydrotherapy device according to claim 11, wherein the connector is detachably connected to the return line port through a threaded engagement.
 13. The hydrotherapy device according to claim 10, wherein the direct connection includes a connector detachably connected to the water inlet.
 14. The hydrotherapy device according to claim 13, wherein the connector is detachably connected to the water inlet through a pin inserted in aligned diametrically opposed holes defined in the water inlet and the connector.
 15. The hydrotherapy device according to claim 8, wherein the outlet of a first of the jet valves is vertically spaced apart from the outlet of a second of the jet valves when the casing is retained against the swimming pool wall.
 16. A method of installing a hydrotherapy device within a swimming pool, the method comprising: detaching a first portion of a return line port of a swimming pool from a second portion of the return line, the second portion having a first conduit defined therein for a water supply of the swimming pool; attaching a connector having a second conduit defined therein to the second portion of the return line port with the second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit; and attaching the water entry port of the hydrotherapy device to the connector to be in fluid communication with the second conduit.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second portion includes an internally threaded ring surrounding the first conduit, the connector includes an externally threaded cylindrical surface surrounding the second conduit, and the step of attaching the connector is performed by threadingly engaging the externally threaded cylindrical surface with the internally threaded ring.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the water entry port includes a third conduit, and the step of attaching the hydrotherapy device is performed by slidably engaging the second and third conduits and inserting a pin through aligned diametrically opposed transverse holes in the second and third conduits. 